GANGADHAR
Ganges is the lifeline of Indian culture. Lord Shankar is named as Gangadhar because he holds Ganges upon his head. None of the streams of Vedic wisdom is bereft of glories of river Ganga. We find a detailed narration of descend of holy Ganga in the scriptures like Mahabharata, Balmiki Ramayana and Puranas.
There is a famous story that Ganga agreed to come down from heaven to earth after relentless endeavor of Bhagirath. But who could bear its tremendous force? If Ganga had descended directly from sky to earth then it would have entered into the lower region by breaking the surface of earth, and the prime purpose of bringing Ganga had gone in vain. Therefore there must be someone who could resist the terrible influence of Ganga and make it appropriate for global welfare. None of the demigods had such powers, so Bhagirath worshipped Lord Shankar and he agreed to support. Shankar did it very innately. The Ganges, which was angrily flowing down with a haughty uproar and an immense speed, breaking away the path of galaxies, that Ganga fully lost her distinctions in the tresses of Lord Jatadhari. The celestial river lost her all pride by wandering for decades, in the forest of Shiva braided hairs. Finally Shiva removed a small bunch of hairs and gave her way to exit. Out of compassion only, Lord Bholenath is holding Ganges upon his head. Ganga is purifying everything. This attribute of purification in Ganges was generated due to her contact with Lord Shiva. What purity she will confer upon Shiva? Shiva is innately pure. He is not contaminated even if he stays at cremation grounds. Poets have immensely sung this pastime through their enchanting poetic compositions. In Mahimnah Stotram Pushpadantacharya has wonderfully described the exotic nature of Lord Vamdeva—
वियद्व्यापी तारागणगुणितफेनोद्गमरुचिः प्रवाहो वारां यः पृषतलघुदृष्टः शिरसि ते।
जगद् द्वीपाकारं जलधिवलयं तेन कृतमि त्यनेनैवोन्नेयं धृतमहिम दिव्यं तव वपुः॥
Star studded sky was reflected in Ganga, and such a vast Ganga appeared like a drop of water in the tresses of Lord Shankar, and being released from Shiva’s head the Ganges covered the earth from all sides turning the land into an island. It also displays the splendor of Shvia.
Acharya Appaya Dixit accepts the mercy of Lord Shiva as the only reason to hold Ganges on the head. Shiva does not hold a tinge of personal gain in it. He performs such benevolent deeds for cosmic welfare only.
गंगा धृता न भवता शिव! पावनीति नास्वादितो मधुर इत्यपि कालकूटः।
संरक्षणाय जगतां करुणातिरेकात् कर्मद्वयं कलितमेतदनन्यसाध्यम्॥
As per spiritual vision of Vedas, the knowledge is termed as Ganga, because the knowledge is purifying everyone. This knowledge is not different to Lord Shiva. He directs the path of materialism and spiritualism by sustaining the knowledge, so Shiva is called as Gangadhar.
Curbing the violent force of actions and engaging it in spiritual practices like hearing etc., is the proper mode of worship of Gangadhar. In the beginning there can be rejection of heinous acts, but finally a complete abstinence from actions is expected. Acharya Bhaskar also defines the name Gangadhar on the basis of narrations found in Puranas—
अमरतटिनी निजं बलमवेक्ष्य गर्वाद्भवच्छिरसि गगनादपीपतदतीव वेगोद्धुरा।
पटुतरजटाटवीमुपगता न दृष्टा क्वचित् परशिव! तां दधन्निगदितोऽसि गंगाधरः॥
The Lord is vanquishing the pride of all. It is clearly anticipated by this name. In Shivkeshadipadant Stotram Adi Shankaracharya has described the beauty of the tresses where Ganga is blocked. It is worth for devotees to contemplate upon—
देयासुर्मूर्ध्नि राजत्सरससुरसरित्पारपर्यन्तनिर्य-
त्प्रांशुस्तम्बाः पिशंगास्तुलितपरिणतारक्तशालीलता वः।
दुर्वारापत्तिगर्त्तश्रितनिखिलजनोत्तारणे रज्जुभूता
घोराधोर्वीरुहालीदहनशिखिशिखाः शर्म शार्वाः कपर्दाः॥
The Ganges, with its crystal clear water, is nicely situated in the braided hairs of Lord Shankar. These hairs (Tresses) appear like a pillar because they are grown upwards. These hairs look like rice-paddy due to their red and yellow colors. Moreover these hairs are compared to long-long ropes to deliver the living beings, who have fallen in the dark well of sufferings. To destroy the terrific forest of sins, these hairs are like fire-flames. May these yellowish curly hairs of Lord Shankar bestow all pleasure at all times upon you.
